No existing private parking areas, parking lots, private driveways and turning areas shall be constructed, laid, reconstructed or changed as to location, materials or drainage facilities until the Building Commissioner and the Architectural Board of Review have approved the plans and specifications, the required fee has been paid and a permit has been issued. Parking improvements shall be reviewed with respect to the improvement and maintenance standards of this section and to the provisions of this chapter. New developments shall be subject to the review and approval of the City Planning Commission.
(a) Paving. All required parking areas, circulation aisles and driveways shall be surfaced with either concrete, bituminous surface or any surface equal to or superior to either of these types, and materials and specifications must be adequate to resist wearing and weathering.
(b) Grading and Drainage. All required parking areas, circulation aisles and driveways shall be graded to provide adequate drainage. The grade, contour and drainage facilities shall be designed to prevent the drainage of surface water onto neighboring property, into or toward buildings or onto sidewalks.
(c) Curbs. A concrete curb of at least four inches from the top of the pavement to the top of the curb shall be installed and maintained along the perimeter of a parking or loading area when located in the front yard, when abutting a landscaped area and when a commercial, public or multifamily parking lot is located adjacent to a Residential District, unless it is determined by the City Engineer that such curbing would interfere with drainage.
(d) Marking. The location of each parking space and the location and direction of movement along driveways and circulation routes shall be indicated by paint on the surface of the parking area, drive or circulation route or by ground signs.
(f) Lighting. Wherever a parking lot or garage is to be used during darkness, a system of floodlighting shall be installed to provide an adequate standard of illumination over the entire parking lot. All floodlights shall be shielded so that a minimum glare will extend to adjacent property.
(g) Landscaping.
(1) Screening when parking areas, circulation aisles, loading areas and driveways abut residential properties. When a parking area, circulation aisle, loading area or driveway of a retail business, office or multifamily use abuts a residential use, the property owner of the parking area shall provide one or more of the following on his or her property:
A. A ten-foot wide landscaped area planted with trees and/or shrubs, a minimum of six feet high, extending to, but not in front of, the building setback line, which will act as an effective screen in both winter and summer seasons.
B. A five to six-foot masonry wall (excluding concrete block) and/or a decorative wood fence, extending to, but not in front of, the building setback line.
C. Earth mounding planted with trees and/or shrubs, extending to, but not in front of, the building setback line. The combined height of mounding and plants shall be a minimum of six feet.
(2) Landscaping of parking areas from public streets. Parking areas of multifamily, office or business uses which front on a public street and abut a public sidewalk shall be appropriately landscaped with grass and shrubs. Shrubs shall be a maximum of two and one-half feet in height, or earth mounding shall be planted with shrubs and/or ground cover or grass. The combined height of mounding and plants shall be a maximum of two and one-half feet.
(3) Buffering and screening. Required buffering and screening shall be subject to the approval of the Architectural Board of Review and/or the Planning Commission, as required in the first paragraph of this section.
(Ord. 96-61. Passed 4-21-97.)